We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Starting a garden can be exciting and a bit intimidating all at once. Whether you’re brand new to gardening or you’ve been doing it for years, there are tons of tips, tricks, and products out there that can help your garden flourish — and you’d be surprised how many of them are hiding at Costco. We chatted with Josh, a Master Gardener and Fruit Tree Grower (also known as The Plant Techie on social media), to get his picks for the best stuff you can grab there. Josh loves picking up live plants at Costco, especially fruit trees and bushes, because they’re usually a solid deal for the money — especially if you know what to look for. “I always check out Costco’s seasonal garden section because you can find some seriously good deals, particularly on bigger items or bulk purchases,” Josh shared with us. If you’re into growing your own veggies, Costco’s veggie starts are worth grabbing too, just make sure you’re ready to plant them right away. “Their stock moves fast, so stopping by regularly is your best bet to snag quality plants and the best selection,” Josh explained. There are also some other products that Josh absolutely swears by.
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6 Stuff Expert Growers Pick Up At Costco
Bare root fruit trees
Josh Gardens Costco might seem like an odd spot to find fruit trees for your own little orchard, but Josh told us that bare root trees are some of his go-to buys. They’re reasonably priced, but he does suggest taking a closer look to find the healthiest plants. “Look for branches that are nice and plump, not all shriveled up. And if you spot one that’s already showing a little bit of green growth, that’s usually a really good sign that you’ve got yourself a strong, viable tree,” Josh shared.
Rosemary plants
Josh Gardens If you want a plant that pulls double duty in your kitchen and your garden, Josh thinks Costco’s rosemary plants — like the one available online for $59.99 — are worth the investment. “They usually come as full, mature bushes at a price point that’s way better than what you’d pay for something smaller at a typical nursery,” he noted. If you live in the warmer parts of the United States, he recommends going for a bigger, healthier bush since it can stick around for many years thanks to those nice, mild temperatures.
Vegetable starts
Josh Gardens If you’re dreaming of starting a veggie garden but can’t stand the wait for seeds to sprout, Josh says grab Costco’s veggie starts instead. They’ll speed things right up. “If you want to harvest faster or you’re getting a late start on the season, that head start really makes a difference. Plus, the pricing can’t be beat for what you’re getting,” Josh told us. Want to give your new veggie starts the best shot? Try setting them up for success with the right care.
Herb bundles
Josh Gardens For those who can’t live without fresh herbs for cooking, Costco’s bundled packs of fresh herbs like rosemary, mint, and sage are something Josh definitely recommends. “You’re usually looking at better pricing when you buy them bundled versus picking them up one by one,” Josh added. Now, if you’re thinking about planting some of these herbs in your garden, Josh has a heads up — don’t stick mint straight in the ground. These guys have a tendency to take over because they spread through the soil via rhizomes.
Gorilla Dump Cart
Josh Gardens Let’s be real — some gardening tasks are way more physically demanding than others. When you need to haul heavy bags of soil or clear out yard debris, you need equipment that’s reliable and built to handle it. The Gorilla Dump Cart at $279 is super popular and happens to be one of the best-reviewed options out there. “That’s honestly one of my most-used tools,” Josh told us. “It’s built to last, easy to push around, and great for moving soil, mulch, or trash. When Costco has it at a good price, I tell everyone to grab it without hesitation.“
Fiskars Tool Bundles
Josh Gardens And finally, Costco occasionally stocks up on Fiskars tool bundles that are perfect for gardening and come with a great price tag. “They’ll sometimes carry sets with the basics like pruners, loppers, or even saws, and bundling them together means you get a really smart deal to build or refresh your whole tool collection at once,” Josh explained. Right now, you can snag Fiskars’ tool set for $29.99 at Costco. This bundle has earned a 4.5-star rating from over 600 reviewers.
